Update on SOAL
Fallen trees damage headstones in historic Lincoln Cemetery in Harrisburg
By Marquis Lupton
Aired; March 8th, 2024.
In Harrisburg, the historic Lincoln Cemetery on South 30th Street is facing potential intentional damage, as two fallen trees have damaged headstones, according to the preservation group Saving Our Ancestors Legacy (SOAL). The group is seeking assistance to address the situation, emphasizing the cemetery’s vulnerable history of vandalism. SOAL, currently assessing the extent of the harm, reveals that the cemetery gate was left wide open, contributing to concerns about intentional destruction.
Established as the oldest Black cemetery in Harrisburg, Lincoln Cemetery holds significant historical value with headstones dating back to 1812. SOAL Founder Rachel Williams highlights the cemetery’s role as the final resting place for over 10,000 African Americans, including civil rights activists and Civil War veterans. Williams, motivated by a familial connection, initiated efforts to restore the cemetery grounds, having already repaired over 400 headstones and salvaged more than 1,000 sunken ones. The damage raises broader concerns about preserving the legacy and recorded history of those interred at the site.
